VisuMax™ The most advanced laser vision correction technology on the planet.
Precision and safety with a more personalised and gentle treatment
Only available in New Zealand through the Eye Centre Group - serving central New Zealand
EASY PAYMENT PLAN | WHY CHOOSE US
Choosing the best Laser Eye Surgery Procedure for your eyes
Which type of laser procedure is suitable and best for your eyes is a decision made by yourself and your eye surgeon, and depends on several factors such as:
- The degree of your refractive error
- The thickness of your corneas
- Whether you are having customized laser treatment.
The Wellington Eye Centre believes the newer Advanced Surface Ablation methods, LASEK and EPI-LASIK, offer the best balance of visual results, low risk of complications and side effects, with reasonably quick recovery.
A summary table is shown below.
| Summary table | ASA LASEK (Blade Free and Flap Free) Advanced Surface Ablation Methods |
LASIK (using Microkeratome Blade to create a flap) |
femtoLasik (Blade Free) (using VisuMax laser to create a flap) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visual results | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Flap related complications | Non-existent | Reasonably frequent | Very infrequent |
| Suitable for customised or wavefront treatment | Best | Less suitable | Less suitable |
| Suitability for thinner corneas | Most | Less | Less |
| Time to complete healing | 2 to 4 weeks | Never | Never |
| Speed of visual recovery | 6 to 10 days | 24 to 48 hours | 24 to 48 hours |
| Eye irritation / pain | Mild to Moderate | Minimal | Minimal |
*Common recovery times have been stated. Note however that recovery time can vary depending on the size of correction and the individual's healing response.
femtoLASIK verses ASA Advanced Surface Laser
WHICH ONE IS BEST FOR ME?
The femtoLASIK procedure requires a femtosecond laser to create a thin, circular flap in the cornea. Even though complications after Lasik are uncommon they are almost always related to 'the flap'.
These flap complications include:
- Loss of the corneal flap during or after the operation.
- Slipping of the flap and healing off center.
- Invasion of the surface tissue into the central tissue of the cornea.
- Infection of the cornea.
- Inflammation of the corneal flap.
- Wrinkling of the flap.
These complications are more common when a mechanical flap cutter is used but are extremely uncommon when a femtosecond laser is used to cut the corneal flap.
femtoLASIK is the procedure of choice where you wish to have a fast and pain-free recovery with an excellent visual outcome.
Because ASA LASEK is performed on the surface of the eye without creating a flap, only one laser is used for vision correction. For this reason, the ASA LASEK procedure can be offered at a lower price than femtoLASIK but still offers excellent safety and visual outcomes. The disadvantage compared to femtoLASIK is that recovery is slower with more discomfort in the first few days. If you want the absolutely safest procedure for vision correction then ASA LASEK is an excellent choice. If your cornea is thinner than average or laser vision correction will thin your cornea significantly, then your eye surgeon may recommend you have ASA LASEK.
ASA AND LASIK HAVE MANY SIMILARITIES BUT THEY EACH HAVE THEIR ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES. BELOW ARE SOME INTERESTING COMPARISON POINTS.
- Vision is clearer immediately after Lasik.
- Vision will be blurry after ASA for about 3 to 7 days.
- The actual Lasik procedure is more uncomfortable than ASA.
- There is almost no pain after Lasik.
- ASA will have some discomfort for about three days.
- Pain after ASA is controlled with eye drops and oral pain medication.
- Corneal haze is more likely after ASA, and is treated with eye drops.
- There is no flap with ASA so no flap complications.
- ASA can be used to treat thinner corneas than femtoLASIK.
- Final vision may be slightly better on average with ASA LASEK than with femtoLASIK.